Typewriting machine



July 6, 1937. A. G. KUPETZ TYPEWRITING MACHINE Filed Jan. 15, 1936 pieces.

Patented July 6, 1937 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE TYPEWRITING MACHINE Application January 15, 1936, Serial No. 59,165

18 Claims.

This invention relates to paper feeding and guiding means for typewriting machines.

In making typewritten entries on such workpieces as monthly statement-sheets for example, it is desirable that the labor entailed in feeding the work-pieces into the machine be reduced to a minimum, because, as the entries made on such sheets are generally short, a large proportion of the total time required for such an entry is spent non-productively, in inserting and removing the work-piece.

An object of this invention is to provide a work-piece feeding and guiding device which will facilitate the insertion and removal of such work- It is a further object to make such a device which can be applied, as a unit, to standard or already existing machines without appreciable alteration.

In this invention, brackets, which support feed-roll control means and a work-piece-guiding table, are mounted on the carriage end-plates.

Each bracket has an extension projecting downwardly and forwardly of the platen above the printing-point, the said extensions having guideways in which end-blocks, supporting a feed-rollshaft structure, are slidably secured. A rockshaft, journaled in the said brackets, is provided with arms which are pivotally linked to the feed roll-shaft end-pieces.

To preferably the right-hand end of the rockshaft, a finger-lever is attached. Both of said arms are rotated in unison, by means of said rock-shaft, thus evenly projecting the feed-roll shaft forwardly away from, or rearwardly in engagement with, the platen. The finger-lever is formed with a camining surface to co-operate with a roller-bearing spring-detent, which yieldably holds the feed-roll shaft in either its operative or released position. The arrangement of the cam and detent is such that only a light pressure, of limited duration, is necessary to accomplish the full movement of the feed-roll shaft.

The guideways are directed to bring the feed rolls, in either operative or released position, clear of the line of vision from the operator to the printing-point.

A front work-table or guiding chute, formed with edge-guides in vertical relationship to the platen, is mounted on a cross-bar rigidly secured to the brackets. The work-table extends downwardly to a point in close proximity to the platen and the feed-rolls, and co-operates with the rolls in guiding and aligning the work-piece immediately after the latter has passed the feed-rolls.

The edge-guides of the guide-chute, by thus positively aligning the work-piece, make it possible to eliminate the usual lower feed-rolls entirely, thus simplifying the paper-feeding struc: ture.

With the feed-rolls in the released position, a work-piece is inserted from the rear, and, because of the elimination of the lower feed-rolls, may glide freely around the platen. The workpiece as it emerges above the wing-scales is in no way interfered with by the feed-rolls. The leading edge is extended to a point above the feed-rolls. The work-piece is aligned horizontally with the aid of'the wing-scales, and the feed-rollsare moved into operative position by a downward pressure on the finger-lever, the rolls ll smoothing the work-piece against the platen, and bringing the edges within the confines of the edge-guides. v

The work-piece is then line-spaced in the usual manner to present the proper writing-line, and the machine is ready for operation.

Other features and advantages will hereinafter appear.

In the accompanying drawing,

Figure 1 is a perspective of the invention as applied to an Underwood typewriting machine.

Figure 2 is an elevation, partly in section, illustrating the machine in operative condition.

Figure 3 is a perspective of the feed roll shaft end-block.

Figure 4 is an elevation, partly in section, illustrating the method of inserting a work-piece, the feed-rolls having been projected forwardly into released position.

Figure 5 illustrates the rock-shaft-adjusting means.

Referring to the drawing, I5 is a platen, journaled in end-plates l6 of a platen-carriage l'l, slidably mounted in the machine-frame (not shown) by means including a pair of co-operating 40 rails I8, 20 (Figure 2) and anti-friction elements 2|. The machine-frame carries ribbonspools, as 22, and type-bars 23,- swingable, in the usual manner, against the platen l5, as indicated by the arrow in Figure 2. A rear paper-table 5 24, connecting the end-plates l6, has a forwardlycurving extension 25, which is spaced around the platen IS in such manner as to provide a throat 26, wide at the point of entrance, and converging into fairly close relationship with the platen just below a pair of wing-scales 21.

. The platen l5 may be line-fed in the usual manner by a knob 28, or when returning the carriage to a new writing-line, by semi-automatic means including a lever and slide 30, 3|.

The foregoing elements are all of familiar construction in the Underwood machine.

A pair of brackets 32, Figure l, are rigidly connected by an upwardly and readwardly tilted angular cross-bar 33, and arranged for mounting on the upper surface of the left and right hand carriage end-plates l6, as by screws 34. A worksupporting table or guide-chute 36, having a rear shelf 31 and side-gages 38, is secured to the said cross-bar by means such as the co-operating screw-and-slot mountings 40, 4|, which provide for adjustment of the table 36 longitudinally of the platen IS. The table 36 is preferably made of fixed width as shown, in which event it is selected to conform to the size of the work-piece being used. It may, however, be easily made adjustable to be adaptable to worksheets of assorted sizes, by forming the rear shelf 31 of relatively adjustable sections similar to those shown in Patent No. 1,503.069, to J. A. B. Smith. The slots 4| are preferably countersunk, as shown in Figure 4, to present a smooth surface which offers no obstruction to the passage of a work-sheet 42. 7

As shown in Figure 1, the work-supporting table is preferably L-shaped to permit the operator easily to reach over the edge of the shelf 31 when inserting a new work-sheet. The leading edge of the shelf 31 is brought down into close proximity with the platen I5.

The brackets 32 have extensions 43, projecting downwardly and forwardly, and in perpendicular relationship to the platen I5. Each extension has a slot forming a guideway 44 which, as shown in Figures 2 and 4, slopes upwardly with respect to the platen. The guideways 44 are in parallel and planar relationship to each other.

A feed-roll shaft 45, slidably mounting a pair of feed-rolls 46 in operative relation to the worktable 36, and a cross-bracing rod 41 are secured in a pair of end-blocks 48. The rod 41 is mounted forwardly of and above the shaft 45 to present a minimum of obstruction to the vision of the operator, and is held in a bowed or sprung condition by means of a block 50, through which the said bracing-rod and feed-roll shaft pass. The resulting structure is a truss of appreciable strength and rigidity, and suitable for even the widest-carriage machines.

The end-blocks 48 each have a projection or runner Figure 3, having parallel smoothly finished top and bottom edges, the said runner being approximately equal in width to the thickness of the extension 43, and arranged to slide smoothly in the guideways 44. The outer face 52 of each end-block 48 acts as a bearing-surface, and the feed-roll structure may thus slidably approach, or withdraw from, the platen IS, in constantly parallel relationship thereto.

The arrangement of the guideways 44 is such that the feed-roll structure, in either operative or released position, as shown in Figures 2 and 4, is out of the line of vision of the operator (represented by the line A-A) with respect to the printing-point.

A rock-shaft 53, journaled in the brackets 32, is fitted at its left-hand end (as viewed in Figure 1) with an arm 54, rigidly secured to the rockshaft by means such as a set-screw 55. At the right-hand end, the said rock-shaft is mounted with an actuating lever 56 secured thereto by a hub-block 57 and offset opposing set-screws 58. As shown in Figure l, the arm 54 and lever 56 are mounted outside of the brackets 32, and. the

rock-shaft 53 is thereby secured against lateral displacement.

The lever 56 has an arm 60 similar in shape to, and in coordinated adjustment with, the arm 54, a camming hub-portion 6| and a forwardlyextending finger-piece 62. As shown in Figure 2, the arm 60 is substantially at right angles to the finger-piece 62, and a vertical motion of the latter will result in an arcuate, forward or rearward motion of the arms 54 and 60.

The arms 54 and 60 are brought down within the end-plates l6, and are pivotally connected to the end-blocks 48 by links 63, said links preferably being inwardly offset at their forward ends to form flat surfaces 64 which co-operate with the faces 52 of the end-blocks 48 to embrace the extensions 43. These offset ends additionally serve to bring the pivot-points 65 of the endblocks directly in front of the arms 54 and 60, and thus the operating thrust of the said arms is applied substantially at right angles to -the feed-roll shaft 45.

The action of the spring-detent device employed to hold the feed-roll shaft 45 yieldably in operative or released position, is illustrated in Figures 2 and 4. The camming hub-portion 6| 0f the actuating lever 56 has a ramp 66 of increasing radius with respect tothe rock-shaft 53, said ramp ending abruptly with a drop 61. A cam-follower 68, pivoted to the right-hand bracket 32 as by a headed rivet 10, has a roller H which bears against the cam-surface. The cam-follower is urged in a clockwise direction. Figures 2 and 4, by a tensile spring 12, secured at one end to the follower 68 through an ear 13, and to the bracket 32 by a pin 14.

With the feed-rolls 46 in the released position, as shown in Figure 4, the roller H rests on the ramp 66. The operator inserts the work-piece 42 from the rear, sliding it through the throat 26,

- the extension 25 of the paper-table 24 deflecting the piece upwardly around the platen l5, until it projects above the wing-scales 21 as shown. After coordinating a previous writing-line on the workpiece with the said wing-scales, the operator presses down on the finger-piece 62, thus drawing the feed-roll structure rearwardly. Immediately after the feed-rolls press the work-piece against the platen, the cam-roller H passes the peak of the ramp 66 and snaps into the drop portion 61 of the cam, thus holding the work-piece 42 against the platen by the evenly tensioned pressure on the feed-rolls 46, the follower 68 constantly urging the rock-shaft 53 into counterclockwise rotation.

The upward slope of the guideways 44 directs the feed-rolls to smooth the work-piece upwardly against the platen, and the said work-piece is drawn rearwardly back within the confines of the side-gages 38. An edge-guide 39, Figure 4, laterally slidable along the rear paper-table 24, may be adjusted to co-operate with one of the side-gages 38 of the work-table 36, to guide the insertion of the work-piece with respect to the work-table.

The release of the feed-rolls 46-is accomplished with equal facility, as the resistance of the tensile spring is opposed over only a fraction of the re quired throw of the lever 62. Immediately after the roller rides over the drop portion 61 of the cam, the slope of the ramp 66 lessens the tension on the spring. When the feed-rolls are in full released position, the spring 12 is substantially The total throw of the lever required in repose.

is only about one inch, as seen from a comparison of Figures 2 and 4.

The feed-roll pressure may be equalized by the rock-shaft adjustment at the actuating lever 56. As seen in Figure 5, the set-screws 58 are offset, and cooperate with angular notches 15 cut into the shaft 53. By the manipulation of the setscrews, when the feed-rolls are in operative position, the shaft 53 may be rotated relatively to the lever 58. The resulting movement of the arm 54 will therefore cause the left-hand feed-roll 46 to bear against the platen IS with greater or lessened pressure, according to the adjustment.

Variations may be resorted to within the scope of the invention, and portions of the improvements may be used without others.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. In a typewriting machine, the combination with a platen, a platen-frame, and rolls running upon said platen above the printing-point, of a rock-shaft journaled brackets secured to said frame, a structure supporting said rolls and slidably mounted in forward extensions of said brackets, instrumentalities for moving said structure in parallel relation to said platen, detent-means for yieldably holding said structure in its operative and released positions, and a work-supporting table mounted between said brackets above said platen, said work-table having edge-guides to co-operate with said rolls in guiding a workpiece around the platen.

2. In a typewriting machine, the combination with a platen, a platen-frame, and rolls running upon said platen above the printing-point, of a rock-shaft journaled in brackets secured to said frame, a structure supporting said rolls and slidably mounted in forward extensions of said brackets, instrumentalities for moving said structure in parallel relation to' said platen, detent-means'for yieldably holding said structure in its operative and released positions, a work supporting and guiding table mounted between said brackets above said platen, and means operative upon said rock-shaft to equalize the pressure of the rolls upon the platen.

3. A work-sheet feeding and guiding device for a typewriting machine, comprising the combination with a platen and a platen-frame, of a pair of brackets mounted on the platen-frame, guideways projecting forwardly from said brackets, a feed-roll-carrying assembly siidably mounted in said guideways, means for causing said assembly to approach or withdraw from the platen in parallel relationship therewith, detent-means for holding said feed-roll assembly in operative or released position, and an edge-guiding device mounted between said brackets to co-operate with said feed-rolls in guiding said work-sheet around the platen.

4. A work-sheet feeding and guiding device for a typewriting machine, comprising the combination with a platen and a platen-frame, of a pair of brackets mounted on the platen-frame, extensions having slotted guideways projecting forwardly from said brackets, said guidcways sloping upwardly toward the platen, end-blocks each having a runner slidably mounted in said guideways, a feed-rollshaft assembly mounted in said end-blocks, means for simultaneously moving said end-blocks with respect to the platen, and an edge-guiding device mounted between said brackets to co-operate with the feed-rolls in guiding said work-sheet around the platen.

5. A work-piece feeding and guiding device for a typewriter having a platen and a platen-carriage, said device comprising a frame mountable upon said carriage, feed-rolls mounted on a shaft, said frame having guideways extending forwardly of the platen for slidably supporting and guiding said shaft, means in said frame operable for moving said shaft in said guideways for placing said feed-rolls in or out of contact with the platen, and a work-piece-supporting table mounted in said frame above said feed-rolls, said table provided with edge-guides to co-operate with said feed-rolls in guiding the work-piece during operation.

6. In a typewriting machine, the combination with a platen, of feed-rolls to run on the front of the platen, a feed-roll-supporting shaft, guideways extending forwardly from the platen, and supporting and guiding said shaft for feed-roll releasing and restoring movements from and to said platen, a front work-supporting table mounted above said feed-rolls and said platen and arranged to co-operate therewith in guiding a work piece around said platen, and a rock-shaft connected to said feed-roll shaft to cause the latter in its movements to stay substantially parallel with said platen.

'7. In a typewriting machine, the combination with a platen, of a feed-roll assembly slidably mounted in parallel guideways, said assembly comprising end-blocks co-operating with said guideways, a shaft secured to said end-blocks, rollers adjustably mounted on said shaft, a reenforcing bar secured to. said end-blocks, and a member intermediate said end-blocks interposed between said roll-shaft and said re-enforcing bar.

8. In a typewriting machine, the combination with a platen, of a feed-roll assembly siidably mounted in parallel guideways, said assembly comprising end-blocks co-operating with said guideways, a shaft secured to vsaid end-blocks, rollers adjustably mounted on said shaft, a. re enforcing bar secured to said end-blocks, and a member intermediate said end-blocks interposed between said roll-shaft and said re-enforcing bar, holding the latter in sprung condition with respect to said roll-shaft.

9. In a typewriting machine, the combination with a platen and a carriage therefor, of a workpiece feeding and guiding device, comprising brackets mounted on the platen-carriage and having guideways projecting forwardly of said platen, a structure carrying feed-rolls siidably mounted in said guideways, a rock-shaft journaled in said brackets and having arms pivotally linked to said feed-roll structure at each end thereof, a finger piece on said rock-shaft, a spring-pressed detent acting on said shaft for normally pressing said feed-rolls against the platen, and an edge-guiding paper-table mounted between said brackets to co-operate with said feed-rolls in guiding the work-piece around the platen.

10. In a typewriting machine, the combination with a platen, a platen-frame and rolls running upon said platen, of means for projecting said rolls forwardly from their normal position on the platen above the printing-point to a released position in front of the platen, including. brackets mounted on said platen-frame, said brackets having slots forming guideways'projecting forwardly of the platen, an end-block in each guideway, having a face in contact with the inner wall of the bracket and a runner slidable within the slot thereof, a. shaft mounting said rolls supported between said end-blocks, a rock-shaft journaled in said brackets, links pivotally connecting said end-blocks to companion arms depending from said rock-shaft, a finger-piece for rotating said rock-shaft, and detent-means operable on said shaft to hold said rolls in operative or released position.

11. In a typewriting machine, the combination with a platen, a platen-frame, a feed-roll shaft having rolls running upon said platen, and means for projecting said rolls forwardly away from said platen, said means including a rock-shaft, arms affixed thereto, and links pivotally connecting said arms and said feed-roll shaft at the ends thereof, of means arranged to rotate said rockshaft with respect to one of said arms to equalize the pressure of the feed-rolls on the platen when in engagement therewith.

12. In a typewriting machine, the combination with a platen, a platen-frame and a feed-roll shaft having feed-rol1s in engagement with said platen above the printing-point, of means for projecting said feed-roll shaft in front of the platen, said means including brackets on said platen-frame having slots forming guideways projecting forwardly from said platen, end-blocks supporting said feed-roll shaft at the ends thereof slidably confined within said guideways, a rock-shaft journaled above said platen-frame, means for rotating said rock-shaft, connections between said rock-shaft and said endblocks, and detent-means for holding said feed-rolls in operative or inoperative position.

13. In a typewriting machine, the combination with a platen and a paper-guiding chute erected at the delivery side of the platen, of rolls to run on the front of the platen below said chute, means supporting and guiding said rolls in front of the platen for release and return movements from and to the platen, a rock-shaft, substantially apart from said means, extending along the platen in rear of said chute, and means extending forwardly from the rock-shaft and connected.

to said rolls to enable said shaft to release and return said rolls from and to the platen.

14. In a typewriting machine, the combination with a platen and a paper-guiding chute erected at the delivery side of the platen, of rolls to run on the front of the platen below said chute, a rock-shaft extending along the platen in rear of said chute, means extending forwardly from the rock-shaft and connected to said rolls to enable said shaft to release and return said rolls from and to the platen, and supporting and guiding means for the rolls including arms mounted at the front of the platen and having slots forming guidways to guide the rolls.

15. In a typewriting machine, the combination with a platen and a paper-guiding chute erected at the delivery side of the platen, of rolls to run on the front of the platen below said chute, a rock-shaft extending along the platen in rear of said chute, means extending forwardly from the rock-shaft and connected to said rolls to enable said shaft to release and return said rolls from and to the platen, and supporting and guiding means. for the rolls including arms mounted at the front of the platen and having slots forming guideways to guide the rolls, said rolls carried by a rod having heads guided in said guideways.

16. In a typewriting machine, the combination with a platen and a paper-guiding chute erected at the delivery side of the platen, of rolls to run on the front of the platen below said chute, means supporting and guiding said rolls in front of the platen for release and return movements from and to the platen, a rock-shaft, substantially apart from said means, extending along the platen in rear of said chute, arms extending down from the ends of said rock-shaft, links extending forwardly from said arms to said rolls, and a finger-piece to operate said rock-shaft, to release and return said rolls.

17. In a front-strike typewriting machine, the combination with a revoluble platen, of a feedroll mounted to run on the platen above the printing line and be movable from and back to the platen, a. key manually operable and connected to said feed-roll for moving the latter from and back to the platen, a cam connected to said key to move therewith, and a spring-pressed detent normally engaging said cam to press the feed-roll against the platen, said cam being arranged to override said detent at an initial part of the movement of the feed-roll away from the platen, so that said spring-detent is rendered ineffective to burden the remainder of the feed-roll movement from the platen, said initial part and remainder of movement being consonant with a substantially extensive movement of said feedroll away from said platen.

18. In a front-strike typewriting machine, the combination with a revoluble platen, of a feedroll mounted to run on the platen above the printing line and be movable from and back to the platen, a key manually operable and connected to said feed-roll for moving the latter from and back to the platen, a cam connected to said key to move therewith, and a springpressed detent normally engaging said cam to press the feed-roll against the platen, said cam being arranged to override said detent at an initial part of the movement of the feed-roll away from the platen, so that said spring-detent is rendered ineflective to burden the remainder of the feed-roll movement from the platen, said initial part and remainder of movement being consonant with a substantially extensive movement of said feed-r011 away from said platen, said cam being formed on a part having an extension cooperative with said spring-pressed detent to render the latter operative to assist in effecting said remainder of the feed-roll movement from the platen.

ADOLPH G. KUPETZ. 

